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Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole

Loaded bacon cheeseburger tater tot casserole with seasoned ground beef, creamy mushroom sauce, and a golden, crispy tater tot topping. Finished with melted cheddar and crunchy diced pickles for loaded cheeseburger flavor in casserole form.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground beef base
  • 1.5 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion
Bacon and cheese layer
  • 6 bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Creamy binder
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
  • 0.25 cup milk
Tater tot topping
  • 4 cup frozen tater tots
Seasoning and toppings
  • 0.1 salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 diced pickles, for topping

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Preheat and brown the beef
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Brown the ground beef with the diced onion in a skillet over medium-high heat for 6–8 minutes, then drain excess fat.
Make the creamy filling
  1. Whisk together the cream of mushroom soup and milk, then stir into the beef mixture.
  2. Season with salt and pepper and spread evenly into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
Layer and bake
  1. Sprinkle half the cheddar cheese and the crumbled bacon over the beef mixture.
  2. Arrange the frozen tater tots in an even layer on top.
  3. Bake at 375°F for 35–40 minutes, until the tater tots are golden and crispy (visual cue).
  4. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and bake for another 5 minutes, until melted (visual cue).
  5. Top with diced pickles before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: spreading the beef mixture evenly and keeping the tater tots in a single even layer helps them crisp instead of steaming. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days; reheat in the oven at 350°F until hot. Freezing: not ideal for best crispness, but you can freeze up to 2 months and reheat in the oven. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cheddar and a lower-fat milk while keeping the bake time the same.